Klinsmann Calls in 26 for Crucial WCQ vs Mexico and Costa Rica

U.S. MNT coach Jurgen Klinsmann has announced a 26 man roster for the upcoming CONCACAF World Cup Qualifier matches this Friday, November 11 versus Mexico and November 15, in San Jose, Costa Rica against the Ticos.

Friday’s game against Mexico will be played at MAPFRE Stadium, formerly Columbus Crew Stadium, the home of four consecutive 2-0 results in favor of the home team.

Klinsmann seems to want to give the maximum players the opportunity to impress. (ISI Photos/John Dorton)

Klinsmann has called up three players over the maximum for this series, not because the U.S. MNT Coach and Technical Director is unfamiliar with the roster size rules but so he can take a look at some young players in a national team camp while also evaluating players recovering from injury.

Included in the first group is Tottenham Hotspurs 18-year-old center back Cameron Carter-Vickers, who has yet to receive a full national team cap and who has so far only seen action for the Spurs senior side in Cup play.

CCV has impressed for U.S. Youth sides but the imposing prospect could still elect to play for his native country, England. Carter-Vickers is eligible for the U.S. MNT through his father, former NBA player Howard “Hi-C” Carter, and while Carter-Vickers has stated his preference to stay in the U.S. MNT set up, nothing is assured until he plays in a sanctioned match for the full U.S. national side.

Jermaine Jones is back and will be looking to impress.. (ISI Photos/John Dorton)

On the injury front, Jermaine Jones impressed in an 83-minute stint in Colorado’s Conference final securing win over the L.A. Galaxy and Klinsmann will want to confirm the that the veteran is fully recovered before winnowing his roster.

Sacha Kljestan figures to be battling Jones for playing time in the U.S. midfield if he is recovered from a possible broken nose sustained as his Red Bulls were eliminated by the Montreal Impact in Sunday’s Eastern Conference semifinals.

And one final bit of injury news presented itself in Sunday’s late game when Seattle striker Jordan Morris was forced out at halftime of the Sounders game versus FC Dallas, a 2-1 loss, that saw the Cascadians advance to the Western Conference Final on a 4-2 aggregate score.

Morris has had a standout year for Seattle. (ISI Photos/Tony Quinn)

Morris has been in fine form of late as he finished up a Rookie Of the Year nominated season but coach Brian Schmetzer was forced to remove the former Stanford University star with a hamstring strain.